Early Saracen Lovers Anonymous......

[Captain Stupido]

Latest to arrive at my house. Tufftrax was an impulse buy, Traverse a freebie destined to the turbo.

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Dibs on that traverse. Looks nice! Happy new Saracens!

 

[nickhowe]

.....Bought this bike back in 1991 from Halfords. It was supposed to be the Tufftrax Elite - but they didn't have one so put the groupset on a standard Tufftrax. Shame because I like the grey pain job - but hours of fun on this baby

 

[thewinternet]

Hey Saracen lovers, just bought this bike in Perth, Western Australia as I liked the look of it. Having researched a bit more I am interested to try find out its era and model, I assume it wasn't overly common here. It appears to be ok condition, potentially a problem with the bottom bracket as the cranks are slightly wobbly and the inner ring gear is contacting the frame. It has SR Apex crankset, looks mostly original except for the seat and maybe one of the wheels (and tyres). Marked as a Saracen Limited Edition, handmade in England. Thanks in advance, Matt

 

[Antstark]

1989 that one I believe. Cranks aren’t original (probably older) neither are the shifters. Quite a rare frame to find in the uk too.

 

[fotorat1]

Takes me back to mine Sahara Elite with Biopace chain rings circa 1990

 

[nickhowe]

Hey Saracen lovers, just bought this bike in Perth, Western Australia as I liked the look of it. Having researched a bit more I am interested to try find out its era and model, I assume it wasn't overly common here. It appears to be ok condition, potentially a problem with the bottom bracket as the cranks are slightly wobbly and the inner ring gear is contacting the frame. It has SR Apex crankset, looks mostly original except for the seat and maybe one of the wheels (and tyres). Marked as a Saracen Limited Edition, handmade in England. Thanks in advance, Matt

....wow - nice

 

[nickhowe]

...also looks like a cup and cone bottom bracket. I had this on my '88 Muddy Fox Courier. They needed maintaining constantly unlike the sealed units and were nigh on impossible to setup as not to have some lateral give and the cups would wear allowing the small ring to close up to the frame.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Here is my 1996 Rufftrax...


It's interesting, as although the frame number and component date codes show it as no later than April 1996 the catalogue doesn't show the Rufftrax as a model until 1997.

Even more curious, it was originally that purple powder coat finish, but that colour is not listed in any catalogue as ever having been available on a Rufftrax. Yet there is no shortage of the model about in that colour.

As pleasant as it is the Rufftrax was a low rent model so it was not worth the effort and expense of making it exactly original. Period-ish correct would suffice.

The original powder coat was irredeemably trashed. Luckily, a friend of mine works for a company that restores classic cars so if I don't mind fairly plain colours - ie, gloss black - I get it done for free. And an excellent job he did to.

1996 STX-RC mechs and chainset with 1996 Alivio shifters. Model correct rims with Alivio Parallax hubs. Original bars, stem and cantis. Ugly Dog seat and random seat post from my Forbidden Box Of Mystery.

Just waiting on a decal set and a single brake cable and it's done. Then I've a 1990 Scott awaiting it's turn.

 

[thewinternet]

1989 that one I believe. Cranks aren’t original (probably older) neither are the shifters. Quite a rare frame to find in the uk too.

Thanks, good to know!

 

[thewinternet]

...also looks like a cup and cone bottom bracket. I had this on my '88 Muddy Fox Courier. They needed maintaining constantly unlike the sealed units and were nigh on impossible to setup as not to have some lateral give and the cups would wear allowing the small ring to close up to the frame.

Thanks for the tip, I might pull it apart this weekend and have a look. Hopefully I can convert it to a cartridge if I can take some measurements etc